On Wednesday (Oct 31), Linda Gibbons, who was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal last week, was arrested yet again for violating the safety of Canadian women -- further proof that that this woman should not have received a medal representing the Queen, and awarded for contribution to Canada.

Last week, there was uproar after Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner, both convicted criminals, were awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals by MP Maurice Vellacott.Both women are anti-choice protesters who have repeatedly and deliberately violated Ontario court injunctions that ban protesters from harassing women as they enter an abortion clinic.

This isn’t about being pro or anti-choice, it’s about the fact that these women’s illegal actions have inflicted harm on women patients and staff at clinics, as evidenced by court cases in Ontario and BC that found that protesters outside clinics violate the privacy and dignity of patients, and put the health and safety of patients and staff at risk. (Ontario Attorney General v. Dieleman 1994, and R.v. Lewis 1996)

Both women have been in and out of jail for years, showing no remorse for their actions, respect for the rule of law, or for women’s rights and health in Canada. Mary Wagner is currently being held at the prison for women at Milton, Ontario, Canada and Linda Gibbons was just arrested again.

Awarding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to two convicted criminals is not only an embarrassment to the Governor General’s office, the Government of Canada, and even the Queen, but most importantly, it supports a dangerous standard for the rights of women, as it fails to protect the privacy, dignity, health and safety of Canadian women.

We urge you to sign this position to retract the two medals awarded to Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner.

Letter to

Governor General of CanadaDavid Johnson

Revoke Queen's Diamond Jubilee from Convicted Anti-abortion Criminals

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals were awarded in October to two convicted criminals. Conservative Member of Parliament Maurice Vellacott selected Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner to receive medals. Both women are anti-choice protesters who have repeatedly and deliberately violated Ontario court injunctions that ban protesters from harassing women as they enter an abortion clinic.

These women’s illegal actions have inflicted harm on women patients and staff at clinics, as evidenced by court cases in Ontario and BC that found that protesters outside clinics violate the privacy and dignity of patients, and put the health and safety of patients and staff at risk. (Ontario Attorney General v. Dieleman 1994, and R.v. Lewis 1996)

Both women have been in and out of jail for years, showing no remorse for their actions. Mary Wagner is currently being held at the prison for women at Milton, Ontario, Canada and Linda Gibbons was arrested again this morning (October 31, 2012) for violating the safety of Canadian women. Neither of these women have shown any respect for the rule of law or for women’s rights and health in Canada.

Awarding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to two convicted criminals is not only an embarrassment to the Governor General’s office and to the government of Canada, but most importantly, it supports a dangerous standard for the rights of women, as it fails to protect the privacy, dignity, health and safety of Canadian women.

We urge you to sign this position to retract the two medals awarded to Linda Gibbons and Mary Wagner.